National / Politics Dec 21, 2014
Deputy Okada close to running for DPJ president
Democratic Party of Japan deputy leader Katsuya Okada considers running in the party's Jan. 18 leadership race.
National / Politics Dec 15, 2014
Kaieda quits as DPJ chief after humiliating ejection from Diet
by Mizuho Aoki and Reiji Yoshida
Humiliated by the loss of his seat in the Lower House election, Banri Kaieda resigns as president of the Democratic Party of Japan.
National / Politics | DECISION 2014 Dec 15, 2014
DPJ President Kaieda loses Diet seat, set to quit as leader
by Reiji Yoshida
In a stunning development early Monday morning, Banri Kaieda, president of the Democratic Party of Japan learned he lost his Diet seat in Sunday's Lower House election and is now set to quit as leader of the nation's largest opposition force. It is unprecedented for ...
National / Politics | DECISION 2014 Dec 10, 2014
DPJ faces uphill battle for swing voters
by Reiji Yoshida
While the ruling coalition commands a higher number of core supporters, opposition parties are vying for swing voters in an election that is expected to see a low turnout.
National / Politics Nov 30, 2014
Opposition party leaders assail Abe over economic policies, collective self-defense in online debate
Leaders from eight of the nation's leading political parties crossed swords in an online debate Saturday over the merits of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies and the new security framework he is pursuing. "We were able to seize the moment (for Japan) to pull ...
National / Politics Nov 26, 2014
Ruling, opposition party leaders visit disaster-hit areas ahead of snap election
The ruling and opposition parties are making a priority of improving the country's preparedness for natural disasters as Japan gears up for the Lower House election next month. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kicked off his stump tour in Iwate Prefecture on Wednesday, and talked with ...
National / Politics Nov 24, 2014
DPJ election platform seeks changes to 'Abenomics'
The Democratic Party of Japan calls a turnaround in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies and promises to revive a "wealthy middle class."
National / Politics Sep 30, 2014
DPJ chief assails Abe over rise in far-right hate speech
by Mizuho Aoki
Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda lashes out at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, demanding that he publicly denounce the rise in racist rallies in Japan.
National / Politics Aug 1, 2014
DPJ chief Kaieda digs in, rebuffs calls for presidential election
by Ayako Mie
Democratic Party of Japan President Banri Kaieda on Thursday confirmed that he still intends to lead the teetering party and spurned mounting calls to hold a leadership election before his term ends in September 2015. "With careful consideration, I would like to stay on as ...
National / Politics Jun 11, 2014
Abe bulldozes over DPJ in self-defense debate
by Ayako Mie
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once again underlined the necessity of reinterpreting the war-renouncing Constitution to allow Japan to engage in collective self-defense during a debate Wednesday, while the main opposition leader failed to capitalize on the opportunity to attack Abe and roll back his ...
Editorials Feb 16, 2014
Now Kaieda must deliver
The head of the Democratic Party of Japan says the party will fiercely confront the Abe administration, which he called a "raging horse," to push politics aimed at protecting people's lives and jobs.
National Dec 4, 2013
Opposition takes final swipe at bill
by Ayako Mie
The ruling bloc and the opposition camp face off again over the contentious state secrets bill, even though it appears headed for passage by the Upper House before the Diet session ends Friday.